28.12.20
Minnippi
Feeling a little more motivated? Not working cause I reckoned it’d be really quiet? Whatever, I decided to go to Minnippi. On site at 6 and bumped into Mr P who had, basically, decided the same thing. It was nice to have his company around the lake.
Predictably there was little of real interest. Probable bird of the visit was a calling Brush Cuckoo near the bridge or was it the single White-throated Needletail overhead? The latter have been in short supply in SEQ this year – possibly because of the lack of electrical storms? We’ve had wind and rain but little electrical activity which I suspect pulls the insects up into the Needletail’s hunting ground. That remains to be seen.
One behaviour which was notable was the presence of 4 Eastern Yellow Robins on the ground in the grass in The Avenue. Joined by a Brown Honeyeater and, briefly, a Grey Shrike Thrush, while a couple of Lewin’s Honeyeaters seemed to be watching from the sidelines, the Robins appeared to be washing in the dew and/or feeding on some small insects. Not only the behaviour was unusual, but we didn’t think there were 4 of the species in the area at all – a pair definitely, but 4? Possibly a family party?
We didn’t have enough motivation between us to do the Airfield Track, just walked back to the cars from the Raptor Lookout. Getting warmer, steamy and becoming uncomfortable.
26.12.20
Oxley
I needed a walk having had little exercise of late and was on site on a clear, sunny, pleasant morning at 5.45.
Not much to write about- overall it was pretty quiet despite the early hour (dawn was at 4.45) and the low number, initially, of walkers ect.
Most species recorded in single (literally) digits- for example 1 Pacific Black Duck, 1 Little Friarbird, 1 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo etc Mostly noted for missing species – no Cormorants, Egrets or Darter at all, only one Australian Pelican, one Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, one Double-barred Finch…..
The highlight, if you could call it that, was (one!) Fan-tailed Cuckoo, which I thought was a little unusual at this time of year, but, as I am fond of saying, ‘what do I know?’
19.12.20
Sandy Camp Rd
I picked Mr D up at 6 and we were on site at 6.15.
Pretty average morning, only things of note:
A number of Leaden Flycatchers (approx 5) and a nest with well-developed chicks pointed out to us by another birder/photographer.
A Little Friarbird’s nest – hung over the water with a bird sitting.
Other than that it was pretty quiet and we went to Nine Bar Kitchen for breakfast as usual.
Feeling a little more motivated? Not working cause I reckoned it’d be really quiet? Whatever, I decided to go to Minnippi. On site at 6 and bumped into Mr P who had, basically, decided the same thing. It was nice to have his company around the lake.
Predictably there was little of real interest. Probable bird of the visit was a calling Brush Cuckoo near the bridge or was it the single White-throated Needletail overhead? The latter have been in short supply in SEQ this year – possibly because of the lack of electrical storms? We’ve had wind and rain but little electrical activity which I suspect pulls the insects up into the Needletail’s hunting ground. That remains to be seen.
One behaviour which was notable was the presence of 4 Eastern Yellow Robins on the ground in the grass in The Avenue. Joined by a Brown Honeyeater and, briefly, a Grey Shrike Thrush, while a couple of Lewin’s Honeyeaters seemed to be watching from the sidelines, the Robins appeared to be washing in the dew and/or feeding on some small insects. Not only the behaviour was unusual, but we didn’t think there were 4 of the species in the area at all – a pair definitely, but 4? Possibly a family party?
We didn’t have enough motivation between us to do the Airfield Track, just walked back to the cars from the Raptor Lookout. Getting warmer, steamy and becoming uncomfortable.
I needed a walk having had little exercise of late and was on site on a clear, sunny, pleasant morning at 5.45.
Not much to write about- overall it was pretty quiet despite the early hour (dawn was at 4.45) and the low number, initially, of walkers ect.
Most species recorded in single (literally) digits- for example 1 Pacific Black Duck, 1 Little Friarbird, 1 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo etc Mostly noted for missing species – no Cormorants, Egrets or Darter at all, only one Australian Pelican, one Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, one Double-barred Finch…..
The highlight, if you could call it that, was (one!) Fan-tailed Cuckoo, which I thought was a little unusual at this time of year, but, as I am fond of saying, ‘what do I know?’
I picked Mr D up at 6 and we were on site at 6.15.
Pretty average morning, only things of note:
A number of Leaden Flycatchers (approx 5) and a nest with well-developed chicks pointed out to us by another birder/photographer.
A Little Friarbird’s nest – hung over the water with a bird sitting.
Other than that it was pretty quiet and we went to Nine Bar Kitchen for breakfast as usual.
Cairns and Beyond......
7 - 13.12.20
I’d been chasing Little Curlew for a few years now. I’d missed seeing it several times – around the Cooktown area 10 (?) years ago, Archerfield many years before that, Amberley airfield a few years ago and, more recently, two attempts in the Lockyer Valley had failed.
It’s been the ‘hole in my Australian list’ in the wader area that has frustrated me for a long time. Not that I’ve seen everything else, but it had stood out since time immemorial….
A rare visitor to SEQ, I was aware that a few birds visited a turf farm in the Cairns area on a relatively regular basis in the summer months so I started thinking of a potential one-day-dash similar to the effort - the successful effort, I might add - I made last year for Rufous Owl.
Checking E-Bird I saw recent reports of up to 4 birds at France Rd Turf Farm in the Edmonton area, 30 minutes south of Cairns. The birds had been seen most days in November – the gaps I attributed to a lack of observers rather than missing birds as the location was a little out of the way and there were undoubtedly a minimum number of birders chasing/reporting sightings.
My thoughts started to firm up.
My commitment level rose.
I had plenty of points to fly my favourite domestic airline, Virgin, there and back without any significant cost. The hire car would, undoubtedly, cost me more than the airfare. No real need to stay overnight, I felt confident that a single day would do the job and, hey, if it didn’t? - I’d do it again later in the summer, maybe?
I mentioned my thoughts in conversation over coffee with Ms B and that’s when it all started to come together - brilliantly….
Within 48 hours:
Dates were agreed.
Flights? Booked.
Accommodation? Sorted.
Car Hire? Fixed.
We were on our way.
Day 1 Tuesday 7.12.20
I got the Uber from home at 7.45 ……………and disembarked from my tourist class seat in Cairns at midday.
The Uber cost me $51 including the $3 tip and the return flights had cost me $1 less + 36,000 points.
I had a smoke then picked up the transfer bus to the Bargain! Car Hire company just outside the airport perimeter. (I had dawdled over the car hire by 24 hours and the price had increased dramatically. I think because it went from 6 days notice to 5 and the car I had wanted was gone, the price for the Hyundai Kona SUV-thing was $25 more and the quality of the vehicle less.) However, I had a car I was OK with and set off south, with MapsMe, as usual, doing the guiding thing.
It wasn’t difficult. Take the main road south, basically, but it took ages. What with road works, traffic lights and pathetically low speed limits – and pathetically slow drivers – the trip took about 10 minutes longer than it should. But finally I turned off left as directed and quickly found a turf farm right where it was supposed to be.
I scanned the open ground. It wasn’t huge and easily visible from the surrounding roads but Little Curlews are relatively small brown birds and easily overlooked I reckoned, against recently turned earth or between tufts of grass or whatever. Anyway, I scanned, moved, scanned and moved – but no sign of anything that looked like a Curlew. I could see Dove sp on the ground at 300 meters and even Pipits, so I figured I wasn’t missing anything by not having a scope.
Yes, I hadn’t brought my scope. The photos on E-bird had been so clear and the bird/s obviously so close, I had figured it wasn’t worth the effort to drag the tripod and scope with me.
So. No target birds.
Hmmm what to do?
I could return later in the afternoon?
Or first thing in the morning?
Bummer if I had to.
I was, in fact, starting to feel unwell. Rare for me, but I felt tired, very tired, slightly nauseous and just plain unwell. I really didn’t want to have to come back if I could avoid it, but….
I checked the name of the turf farm I was overseeing – it wasn’t ‘France Rd’.
Hmmmm, could there be another turf farm hidden away among the sugarcane?
I drove further down the road towards what I could see was the end.
Another area of turf growth appeared on my left. No signs, but could this be it?
I de-cared and scanned the field. Smaller than the last place, I didn’t need to move from the one spot.
And then.
There.
Over against the fence and sugarcane plantation on the right, a small brown wader. Could it be the elusive target?
YES! Finally. It wasn’t the best of views, but I did locate 3 definite Little Curlews at the 300 meter distance. Chased occasionally by a paranoid Masked Lapwing I hoped they’d come closer but they didn’t. I did see them in flight however and watched them run around and feed for about 45 minutes before deciding enough was enough and my air-conditioned hotel room seemed more attractive. Still feeling a bit like death I headed back and checked into the Sunshine Tower Hotel. I was on the 7th floor – the top of possibly the tallest building in Cairns – certainly the tallest building along Sheridan st, so easy to find.
I didn’t do anything for the rest of the evening.
 |
| If you squint very hard, open the bedroom window, say the alphabet backwards and use your imagination - you could, maybe, convince yourself it was a Little Curlew.... |
Day 2 Wednesday 8.12.20 – Day 5 Saturday 12.12.20
I felt a bit better when I woke up – after a broken night’s sleep – and headed down to Muddy’s on the esplanade for breakfast and coffee.
(Hundreds of Torresian Imperial Pigeons, Varied Honeyeater, millions of Peaceful Doves and other common birds. Hadn’t brought my bins so couldn’t scan the waders, but at least 1 Whimbrel and several Godwit sp….)
Back to the hotel, packed up and checked out and headed to the airport for the 9.00 pick up.
That completed we headed north along the coast and the lovely drive to Port Douglas.
We spent the next 4 days doing very little, just relaxing, swimming in a jungle type pool at the apartments, watching TV, going out for massages, dinner and coffee. On Friday we drove up to the Daintree River, then across on the ferry and right up to Cape Tribulation. We had the road almost entirely to ourselves, it was all very quiet, and I had hoped to see a Southern Cassowary, but we were denied that experience.
(Australian Swiftlet, Black Butcherbird, Raja Shelduck, White-bellied Sea Eagle)
(Serenaded every evening by the dozen or so Bush Stone Curlews lounging around in the park across the road, Orange-footed Scrubfowl wandering around the street, Green Orioles calling continuously, but difficult to see)
On Saturday we packed up and headed south for our last night at Thala Beach Eco resort. What can I say? Very nice, very luxurious, very private, very…..romantic. Beautiful.
(More Scrubfowl, Olive-backed Sunbirds, Yellow-spotted Honeyeater (& nest), Metallic Starlings and Hornbill Friarbirds everywhere, Eastern Reef Egret, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes, Dusky Honeyeaters, calling Red-legged Crake, but no sighting, Agile Wallaby, Green Turtle and 2 ‘new’ butterflies – Ambrax Swallowtail Papilio ambrax & Bordered Rusticn Cupha prosope.)
Day 6 Sunday 13.12.20
A late checkout and we headed south again, back to Cairns, at midday. I dropped Ms B off at the airport as her flight was earlier than mine, but after I dropped the car off and returned to check in myself, we had heaps of time for coffee before she had to board and depart for home via Jetstar.
I had a couple of hours to kill before my Virgin BUSINESS CLASS (!!) flight left at 17.00.
When I booked the tickets I had used points and pay (my choice) and when I got to pick my seats, the only seats offered to me on the return flight were in rows 1 and 2. I didn’t think too much about it at the time – just assumed the flight was close to full, however, when my itinerary arrived I noticed it said ‘Business class’ on the return flight! Wow!! I’d never flown business class before so felt suitably impressed!
It was pretty cool – drinks and food offered, priority boarding and bags off on the carousel immediately. It’s tempting to repeat, but……..I could never justify the extra expense. But Thank You Virgin!!
Hairy landing in very heavy rain and cloud as SEQ had been getting hammered over the last 48 hours under 100’s of millimeters of rain. Uber home @ $64.
(Note: this was NOT, of course, a birding trip – apart from the Little Curlew effort - I just noted birds etc in passing)
